Pollo en fricase - Chicken fricassee

Here is a delicious aromatic dish. One guaranteed to fill not only your kitchen but the neighborhood if your window is open, with a pleasant aroma.

It may seem a little complicated, but if you follow my instructions you will be glad you stuck it out. This dish will serve at least six.

1 - 3 to 3 1/2 lb. Fryer cut up and washed thoroughly and patted dry with a paper towel

5 to 6 Tablespoons of Adobo ( recipe for Adobo can be found on the foundation page)

Place chicken parts in a large bowl and add Adobo a spoon at a time and rub on until you have seasoned all the parts. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour ( Remember the longer it marinates the better).

6 - Tablespoons of sofrito (recipe for sofrito can also be found on the foundation page )

6 - Table spoons of olive oil

6 -oz of cooking ham diced

2 - Tablespoons of oregano

2 - bay leafs

1/2 Cup of Chicken broth or a 1/2 cup of dry white cooking wine

6 to 8 green olives ( you can use pitted, unpitted or Spanish olives)

1 - Table spoon of capers

3 to 4 Tablespoons of tomato paste ( If you rather you can substitute 1 can of tomato sauce )

2 - Potatoes peeled and cut into quarters ( kept in a bowl covered with cold water)

In a large pot heat 3 Tablespoons of olive oil.

Add a few pieces of chicken and brown on all sides. Remove and set aside, continue browning until all the chicken has been browned.

Drain all fat from the pot and de glaze with chicken broth or wine and scraping the bottom of the pot reducing liquid by 1/2.

Pour off liquid into a bowl and set aside. Wash pot with hot water do not use soap at this time a stiff brush or pad will do.

Return pot to stove bring up to heat and add 3 table spoons of olive oil. Add ham and brown lightly add sofrito and bring to a slow simmer. Add tomato paste or tomato sauce and continue simmering.

Now you can add the rest of the ingredients that is all but the chicken and potatoes. let the mixture simmer for another 5 minutes stirring so as not to let it stick to the pot. If you see that it seems to thick add a little more broth and stir.

Now add the chicken making sure that all the parts get coated with the sauce. cover the pot and check in 15 minutes at this time you can move the parts that are on the bottom to the top and the parts that were on the top move to the bottom of the pot. Replace cover and continue simmering for another 15 minutes. Add potatoes and make sure that they are covered with the sauce, replace cover and cook for another 15 to 20 minutes or until potatoes are done.

This is another dish that will go well with white rice or with garlic bread and a tossed salad.

Pollo Frito - Fried Chicken

I know that many of you have tried different types of fried chicken. Most of them are coated with flour, bread crumbs or a batter of some kind.

We would like to offer an alternative in this recipe and if done right we think that you will find that your chicken will come out nice and crispy on the outside and yet moist and tender on the inside.

This dish can be complimented with French fries, a nice tossed salad and garlic bread.

Ingredients

1 fryer 3 - 3 ½ pounds ( cut up washed under cold water and patted dry)

2 to 3 tablespoons of adobo dry rub ( look in the foundation page for the recipe )

Enough vegetable oil or shortening for deep frying.

Note:

For those of you that don't care for fried foods you can do this dish in the oven.

1- Rub chicken parts with adobo making sure to cover parts completely with the seasoning.

2- Place chicken parts in a covered bowl and refrigerate at least 4 hours preferably over night.

3- Add oil or shortening in a deep fryer or caldero(caldron) and bring up to high heat for frying.

4- Add a few pieces at a time brown on all sides, reduce heat and allow to cook covered for about 20 to 25 minutes.

5- Remove cover and cook another 5 to 10 minutes. Remove cooked chicken and allow to drain on a paper towel. Place in a covered oven ware pot and keep in oven on low to keep warm.

6- Continue this process until you have fried all the chicken.

I hope that you will try and enjoy this dish.